Applying XAM processes

ABSTRACT

A method is used in applying XAM processes. A set of content is received via any of a file system interface, a block based interface, an object based interface to an object addressable data storage system. An object derived from the set of content and having an object identifier is stored in the object addressable data storage system. The object is made available for retrieval via the object based interface using the object identifier.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to applying XAM processes.

Description of Related Art

Storage devices are employed to store data that is accessed by computer systems. Examples of basic storage devices include volatile and non-volatile memory, floppy drives, hard disk drives, tape drives, optical drives, etc. A storage device may be locally attached to an input/output (I/O) channel of a computer. For example, a hard disk drive may be connected to a computer's disk controller.

As is known in the art, a disk drive contains at least one magnetic disk which rotates relative to a read/write head and which stores data nonvolatilely. Data to be stored on a magnetic disk is generally divided into a plurality of equal length data sectors. A typical data sector, for example, may contain 512 bytes of data. A disk drive is capable of performing a write operation and a read operation. During a write operation, the disk drive receives data from a host computer along with instructions to store the data to a specific location, or set of locations, on the magnetic disk. The disk drive then moves the read/write head to that location, or set of locations, and writes the received data. During a read operation, the disk drive receives instructions from a host computer to access data stored at a specific location, or set of locations, and to transfer that data to the host computer. The disk drive then moves the read/write head to that location, or set of locations, senses the data stored there, and transfers that data to the host.

A storage device may also be accessible over a network. Examples of such a storage device include network attached storage (NAS) and storage area network (SAN) devices. A storage device may be a single stand-alone component or be comprised of a system of storage devices such as in the case of Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) groups.

Virtually all computer application programs rely on such storage devices which may be used to store computer code and data manipulated by the computer code. A typical computer system includes one or more host computers that execute such application programs and one or more storage systems that provide storage.

The host computers may access data by sending access requests to the one or more storage systems. Some storage systems require that the access requests identify units of data to be accessed using logical volume (“LUN”) and block addresses that define where the units of data are stored on the storage system. Such storage systems are known as “block I/O” storage systems. In some block I/O storage systems, the logical volumes presented by the storage system to the host correspond directly to physical storage devices (e.g., disk drives) on the storage system, so that the specification of a logical volume and block address specifies where the data is physically stored within the storage system. In other block I/O storage systems (referred to as intelligent storage systems), internal mapping techniques may be employed so that the logical volumes presented by the storage system do not necessarily map in a one-to-one manner to physical storage devices within the storage system. Nevertheless, the specification of a logical volume and a block address used with an intelligent storage system specifies where associated content is logically stored within the storage system, and from the perspective of devices outside of the storage system (e.g., a host) is perceived as specifying where the data is physically stored.

In contrast to block I/O storage systems, some storage systems receive and process access requests that identify a data unit or other content unit (also referenced to as an object) using an object identifier, rather than an address that specifies where the data unit is physically or logically stored in the storage system. Such storage systems are referred to as object addressable storage (OAS) systems. In object addressable storage, a content unit may be identified (e.g., by host computers requesting access to the content unit) using its object identifier and the object identifier may be independent of both the physical and logical location(s) at which the content unit is stored (although it is not required to be because in some embodiments the storage system may use the object identifier to inform where a content unit is stored in a storage system). From the perspective of the host computer (or user) accessing a content unit on an OAS system, the object identifier does not control where the content unit is logically (or physically) stored. Thus, in an OAS system, if the physical or logical location at which the unit of content is stored changes, the identifier by which host computer(s) access the unit of content may remain the same. In contrast, in a block I/O storage system, if the location at which the unit of content is stored changes in a manner that impacts the logical volume and block address used to access it, any host computer accessing the unit of content must be made aware of the location change and then use the new location of the unit of content for future accesses.

One example of an OAS system is a content addressable storage (CAS) system. In a CAS system, the object identifiers that identify content units are content addresses. A content address is an identifier that is computed, at least in part, from at least a portion of the content (which can be data and/or metadata) of its corresponding unit of content. For example, a content address for a unit of content may be computed by hashing the unit of content and using the resulting hash value as the content address. Storage systems that identify content by a content address are referred to as content addressable storage (CAS) systems.

The eXtensible Access Method (XAM) proposal is a proposed standard that employs content addressable storage techniques, that is being developed jointly by members of the storage industry and provides a specification for storing and accessing content and metadata associated with the content. In accordance with XAM, an “XSet” is a logical object that can be defined to include one or more pieces of content and metadata associated with the content, and the XSet can be accessed using a single object identifier (referred to as an XUID). As used herein, a logical object refers to any logical construct or logical unit of storage, and is not limited to a software object in the context of object-oriented systems.

As discussed above, an XSet can store one or more pieces of content. For example, an XSet can be created to store a photograph and the photograph itself can be provided as a first “stream” to the XSet. One or more files (e.g., text files) can be created to include metadata relating to the photograph, and the metadata file(s) can be provided to the XSet as one or more additional streams. Once the XSet has been created, a XUID is created for it so that the content (e.g., the photograph) and its associated metadata can thereafter be accessed using the single object identifier (e.g., its XUID). A diagram of an illustrative XSet 100 is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, XSet 100 includes a number of streams for storing user provided content and metadata. The XSet may also include a number of additional fields 103 that store other types of metadata for the XSet, such as, for example, the creation time for the XSet, the last access time of access of the XSet, and/or any retention period for the XSet.

In XAM, each field or stream in an XSet may be designated as binding or non-binding. Binding fields and streams are used in computing the XUID for the XSet, while non-binding fields and streams are not. That is, the XUID for an XSet is computed based on the content of the binding fields and streams (e.g., by hashing the content of these fields and streams), but not based on the non-binding fields and streams. The designation of certain fields and/or stream as binding may change. Re-designating as binding a field or stream that had been previously designated as non-binding causes the XUID for the XSet to change. Similarly, re-designating a field or stream as non-binding that had previously been designated as binding causes the XUID for the XSet to change.

Because the XUID for an XSet is generated using the content of the binding fields and streams, the binding fields and streams of the XSet cannot be changed once the field becomes binding (though these fields and streams can be re-designated as non-binding and then changed). A request to modify a binding field or stream will result in a new XSet with a different XUID being created.

Some storage systems receive and process access requests that identify data organized by file system. A file system is a logical construct that translates physical blocks of storage on a storage device into logical files and directories. In this way, the file system aids in organizing content stored on a disk. For example, an application program having ten logically related blocks of content to store on disk may store the content in a single file in the file system. Thus, the application program may simply track the name and/or location of the file, rather than tracking the block addresses of each of the ten blocks on disk that store the content.

File systems maintain metadata for each file that, inter alia, indicates the physical disk locations of the content logically stored in the file. For example, in UNIX file systems an inode is associated with each file and stores metadata about the file. The metadata includes information such as access permissions, time of last access of the file, time of last modification of the file, and which blocks on the physical storage devices store its content. The file system may also maintain a map, referred to as a free map in UNIX file systems, of all the blocks on the physical storage system at which the file system may store content. The file system tracks which blocks in the map are currently in use to store file content and which are available to store file content.

When an application program requests that the file system store content in a file, the file system may use the map to select available blocks and send a request to the physical storage devices to store the file content at the selected blocks. The file system may then store metadata (e.g., in an inode) that associates the filename for the file with the physical location of the content on the storage device(s). When the file system receives a subsequent request to access the file, the file system may access the metadata, use it to determine the blocks on the physical storage device at which the file's content is physically stored, request the content from the physical storage device(s), and return the content in response to the request.

In general, since file systems provide computer application programs with access to data stored on storage devices in a logical, coherent way, file systems hide the details of how data is stored on storage devices from application programs. For instance, storage devices are generally block addressable, in that data is addressed with the smallest granularity of one block; multiple, contiguous blocks form an extent. The size of the particular block, typically 512 bytes in length, depends upon the actual devices involved. Application programs generally request data from file systems byte by byte. Consequently, file systems are responsible for seamlessly mapping between application program address-space and storage device address-space.

File systems store volumes of data on storage devices, i.e., collections of data blocks, each for one complete file system instance. These storage devices may be partitions of single physical devices or logical collections of several physical devices. Computers may have access to multiple file system volumes stored on one or more storage devices.

File systems maintain several different types of files, including regular files and directory files. Application programs store and retrieve data from regular files as contiguous, randomly accessible segments of bytes. With a byte-addressable address-space, applications may read and write data at any byte offset within a file. Applications can grow files by writing data to the end of a file; the size of the file increases by the amount of data written. Conversely, applications can truncate files by reducing the file size to any particular length. Applications are solely responsible for organizing data stored within regular files, since file systems are not aware of the content of each regular file.

Files are presented to application programs through directory files that form a tree-like hierarchy of files and subdirectories containing more files. Filenames are unique to directories but not to file system volumes. Application programs identify files by pathnames comprised of the filename and the names of all encompassing directories. The complete directory structure is called the file system namespace. For each file, file systems maintain attributes such as ownership information, access privileges, access times, and modification times.

Many file systems utilize data structures mentioned above called inodes to store information specific to each file. Copies of these data structures are maintained in memory and within the storage devices. Inodes contain attribute information such as file type, ownership information, access permissions, access times, modification times, and file size. Inodes also contain lists of pointers that address data blocks. These pointers may address single data blocks or address an extent of several consecutive blocks. The addressed data blocks contain either actual data stored by the application programs or lists of pointers to other data blocks. With the information specified by these pointers, the contents of a file can be read or written by application programs. When an application programs write to files, data blocks may be allocated by the file system. Such allocation modifies the inodes.

Additionally, file systems maintain information, called “allocation tables”, that indicate which data blocks are assigned to files and which are available for allocation to files. File systems modify these allocation tables during file allocation and de-allocation. Most modem file systems store allocation tables within the file system volume as bitmap fields. File systems set bits to signify blocks that are presently allocated to files and clear bits to signify blocks available for future allocation.

The terms real-data and metadata classify application program data and file system structure data, respectively. In other words, real-data is data that application programs store in regular files. Conversely, file systems create metadata to store volume layout information, such as inodes, pointer blocks (called indirect blocks), and allocation tables (called bitmaps). Metadata may not be directly visible to applications.

A file may have other descriptive and referential information, i.e., other file metadata, associated with it. This information may be relative to the source, content, generation date and place, ownership or copyright notice, central storage location, conditions to use, related documentation, applications associated with the file or services.

Today there are different approaches for implementing the association of a file with metadata of that file. Basically, metadata of a file can be encoded onto the same filename of the file, they can be prepended or appended onto the file as part of a file wrapper structure, they can be embedded at a well-defined convenient point elsewhere within the file, or they can be created as an entirely separate file.

I/O interfaces transport data among the computers and the storage devices. Traditionally, interfaces fall into two categories: channels and networks. Computers generally communicate with storage devices via channel interfaces. Channels predictably transfer data with low-latency and high-bandwidth performance; however, channels typically span short distances and provide low connectivity. Performance requirements often dictate that hardware mechanisms control channel operations. The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) is a common channel interface. Storage devices that are connected directly to computers are known as direct-attached storage (DAS) devices.

Computers communicate with other computers through networks. Networks are interfaces with more flexibility than channels. Software mechanisms control substantial network operations, providing networks with flexibility but large latencies and low bandwidth performance. Local area networks (LAN) connect computers medium distances, such as within buildings, whereas wide area networks (WAN) span long distances, like across campuses or even across the world. LANs normally consist of shared media networks, like Ethernet, while WANs are often point-to-point connections, like Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is a popular network protocol for both LANs and WANs. Because LANs and WANs utilize very similar protocols, for the purpose of this application, the term LAN is used to include both LAN and WAN interfaces.

Recent interface trends combine channel and network technologies into single interfaces capable of supporting multiple protocols. For instance, Fibre Channel (FC) is a serial interface that supports network protocols like TCP/IP as well as channel protocols such as SCSI-3. Other technologies, such as iSCSI, map the SCSI storage protocol onto TCP/IP network protocols, thus utilizing LAN infrastructures for storage transfers.

In at least some cases, SAN refers to network interfaces that support storage protocols. Storage devices connected to SANs are referred to as SAN-attached storage devices. These storage devices are block and object-addressable and may be dedicated devices or general purpose computers serving block and object-level data.

Distributed file systems provide users and application programs with transparent access to files from multiple computers networked together. Distributed file systems may lack the high-performance found in local file systems due to resource sharing and lack of data locality. However, the sharing capabilities of distributed file systems may compensate for poor performance.

Architectures for distributed file systems fall into two main categories: NAS-based and SAN-based. NAS-based file sharing places server computers between storage devices and client computers connected via LANs. In contrast, SAN-based file sharing, traditionally known as “shared disk” or “share storage”, uses SANs to directly transfer data between storage devices and networked computers.

NAS-based distributed file systems transfer data between server computers and client computers across LAN connections. The server computers store volumes in units of blocks on DAS devices and present this data to client computers in a file-level format. These NAS servers communicate with NAS clients via NAS protocols. Both read and write data-paths traverse from the clients, across the LAN, to the NAS servers. In turn, the servers read from and write to the DAS devices. NAS servers may be dedicated appliances or general-purpose computers.

NFS is a common NAS protocol that uses central servers and DAS device's to store real-data and metadata for the file system volume. These central servers locally maintain metadata and transport only real-data to clients. The central server design is simple yet efficient, since all metadata remains local to the server. Like local file systems, central servers only need to manage metadata consistency between main memory and DAS devices. In fact, central server distributed file systems often use local file systems to manage and store data for the file system. In this regard, the only job of the central server file system is to transport real-data between clients and servers.

SAN appliances are prior art systems that consist of a variety of components including storage devices, file servers, and network connections. SAN appliances provide block-level, and possibly file-level, access to data stored and managed by the appliance. Despite the ability to serve both block-level and file-level data, SAN appliances may not possess the needed management mechanisms to actually share data between the SAN and NAS connections. The storage devices are usually partitioned so that a portion of the available storage is available to the SAN and a different portion is available for NAS file sharing. Therefore, for the purpose of this application, SAN appliances are treated as the subsystems they represent.

Another adaptation of a SAN appliance is simply a general purpose computer with DAS devices. This computer converts the DAS protocols into SAN protocols in order to serve block-level data to the SAN. The computer may also act as a NAS server and serve file-level data to the LAN.

File system designers can construct complete file systems by layering, or stacking, partial designs on top of existing file systems. The new designs reuse existing services by inheriting functionality of the lower level file system software. For instance, NFS is a central-server architecture that utilizes existing local file systems to store and retrieve data from storage device attached directly to servers. By layering NFS on top of local file systems, NFS software is free from the complexities of namespace, file attribute, and storage management. NFS software consists of simple caching and transport functions. As a result, NFS benefits from performance and recovery improvements made to local file systems.

Most modern operating systems include installable file system interfaces to support multiple file system types within a single computer. In UNIX, the Virtual File System (VFS) interface is an object-oriented, installable interface. While several UNIX implementations incorporate VFS, the interfaces differ slightly between platforms. Several non-UNIX operating systems, such as Microsoft Windows NT, have interfaces similar to VFS.

VFS occupies the level between the system call interface and installed file systems. Each installed file system provides the UNIX kernel with functions associated with VFS and vnode operations. VFS functions operate on whole file systems to perform tasks such as mounting, unmounting, and reading file system statistics. Vnode operations manipulate individual files. Vnode operations include opening, closing, looking up, creating, removing, reading, writing, and renaming files.

Vnode structures are the objects upon which vnode functions operate. The VFS interface creates and passes vnodes to file system vnode functions. A vnode is the VFS virtual equivalent of an inode. Each vnode maintains a pointer called “v_data” to attached file system specific, in-core memory structures such as inodes.

Many file system interfaces support layering. With layering, file systems are capable of making calls to other file systems through the virtual file system interface. For instance, NFS server software may be implemented to access local file systems through VFS. In this manner, the server software does not need to be specifically coded for any particular local file system type; new local file systems may be added to an operating system without reconfiguring NFS.

A tape library consists of a housing in which is included a robot and a number of resources, defined by their element address and their function, namely a number of tape drives (or data transfer elements), plural normal tape slots (or storage elements) and at least one import/export slot (or import/export element). Tape slots typically are tape receptacles in the walls of the housing, and import/export elements typically are receptacles in a door of the housing, which allow tape cassettes to be introduced into and taken from the library by a human operator. Each tape drive typically has a SCSI connection to a single host computer. The host also sends SCSI commands to control the robot to move tapes between the tape slots, tape drives and import/export slots. Tape libraries, or more particularly the robot thereof, are able, typically in response to a request from the host, to determine what tapes it contains in which slots, and to convey this information to the host along with information concerning the number of tape drives, normal slots and import/export slots that it has.

A virtual tape storage system is a hardware and software product configured to interact with a host computer. Application programs running on the host computer store data output on tape volumes for storage. These tape volumes are embodied in the virtual tape storage system as virtual volumes on virtual tape drives. A virtual volume is a collection of data, organized to appear as a normal tape volume, residing in the virtual tape storage system. To the host computer and to the application programs, the tape volume contents appear to be stored on a physical tape device of a particular model, with the properties and behavior of that model emulated by the actions of the virtual tape storage system. However, the data may actually be stored as a virtual volume on any of a variety of different storage mediums such as disk, tape, or other non-volatile storage media, or combinations of the above. The virtual volume may be spread out over multiple locations, and copies or “images” of the virtual volume may be stored on more than one kind of physical device, e.g., on tape and on disk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method is used in applying XAM processes. A set of content is received via any of a file system interface, a block based interface, an object based interface to an object addressable data storage system. An object derived from the set of content and having an object identifier is stored in the object addressable data storage system. The object is made available for retrieval via the object based interface using the object identifier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of data structures for use in applying XAM processes; and

FIGS. 2-6 are block diagrams of one or more data storage systems for use with the data structures of FIG. 1.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form shown, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Described below is a technique for use in applying XAM processes, which technique may be used to provide, among other things, indexed storage using XAM processes. In at least one implementation, indexed storage refers to a storage system that uses XAM processes to index and view all data arriving into a storage system via any protocol. Conventionally, multiprotocol boxes lack the ability to attach universal metadata to content arriving on different protocols, and lack the ability to provide a singular view of content and associated metadata. By Contrast, for example, by use of the technique described herein, an indexed storage system can be implemented that has a unified, canonical format (XAM XSets) to ultimately house content arriving to the indexed storage system via any or nearly any protocol. In such an indexed storage system, this unified format can be viewed on the front end (i.e., through an application interface to the storage system) using an industry standard process (XAM) and it can also support Centera/XAM processes on the back-end (i.e., with the storage system) as well (e.g., retention, replication, single instancing).

Referring to FIG. 2, shown is an example of an embodiment of a computer system that may be used in connection with performing the techniques described herein. The computer system 10 includes one or more data storage systems 12 connected to server or host systems 14 a-14 n through communication medium 18. The system 10 also includes a management system 16 connected to one or more data storage systems 12 through communication medium 20. In this embodiment of the computer system 10, the management system 16, and the N servers or hosts 14 a 14 n may access the data storage systems 12, for example, in performing input/output (I/O) operations, data requests, and other operations. The communication medium 18 may be any one or more of a variety of networks or other type of communication connections as known to those skilled in the art. Each of the communication mediums 18 and 20 may be a network connection, bus, and/or other type of data link, such as a hardwire or other connections known in the art. For example, the communication medium 18 may be the Internet, an intranet, network or other wireless or other hardwired connection(s) by which the host systems 14 a 14 n may access and communicate with the data storage systems 12, and may also communicate with other components (not shown) that may be included in the computer system 10. In one embodiment, the communication medium 20 may be a LAN connection and the communication medium 18 may be an iSCSI or fibre channel connection.

Each of the host systems 14 a-14 n and the data storage systems 12 included in the computer system 10 may be connected to the communication medium 18 by any one of a variety of connections as may be provided and supported in accordance with the type of communication medium 18. Similarly, the management system 16 may be connected to the communication medium 20 by any one of variety of connections in accordance with the type of communication medium 20. The processors included in the host computer systems 14 a-14 n and management system 16 may be any one of a variety of proprietary or commercially available single or multi-processor system, such as an Intel-based processor, or other type of commercially available processor able to support traffic in accordance with each particular embodiment and application.

It should be noted that the particular examples of the hardware and software that may be included in the data storage systems 12 are described herein in more detail, and may vary with each particular embodiment. Each of the host computers 14 a-14 n, the management system 16 and data storage systems may all be located at the same physical site, or, alternatively, may also be located in different physical locations. In connection with communication mediums 18 and 20, a variety of different communication protocols may be used such as SCSI, Fibre Channel, iSCSI, and the like. Some or all of the connections by which the hosts, management system, and data storage system may be connected to their respective communication medium may pass through other communication devices, such as a Connectrix or other switching equipment that may exist such as a phone line, a repeater, a multiplexer or even a satellite. In one embodiment, the hosts may communicate with the data storage systems over an iSCSI or a fibre channel connection and the management system may communicate with the data storage systems over a separate network connection using TCP/IP. It should be noted that although FIG. 2 illustrates communications between the hosts and data storage systems being over a first connection, and communications between the management system and the data storage systems being over a second different connection, an embodiment may also use the same connection. The particular type and number of connections may vary in accordance with particulars of each embodiment.

Each of the host computer systems may perform different types of data operations in accordance with different types of tasks. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, any one of the host computers 14 a-14 n may issue a data request to the data storage systems 12 to perform a data operation. For example, an application executing on one of the host computers 14 a-14 n may perform a read or write operation resulting in one or more data requests to the data storage systems 12.

The management system 16 may be used in connection with management of the data storage systems 12. The management system 16 may include hardware and/or software components. The management system 16 may include one or more computer processors connected to one or more I/O devices such as, for example, a display or other output device, and an input device such as, for example, a keyboard, mouse, and the like. A data storage system manager may, for example, view information about a current storage volume configuration on a display device of the management system 16.

In at least one embodiment, the one or more data storage systems 12 of FIG. 2 may be an appliance with hardware and software for hosting the data storage of the one or more applications executing on the hosts 14 a-14 n. The appliance may include one or more storage processors and one or more devices upon which data is stored. The appliance may include software used in connection with storing the data of the hosts on the appliance and also software used in connection with techniques described in following paragraphs which are part of a common software environment.

In another embodiment, the data storage systems 12 may include one or more data storage systems such as one or more of the data storage systems offered by EMC Corporation of Hopkinton, Mass. Each of the data storage systems may include one or more data storage devices, such as disks. One or more data storage systems may be manufactured by one or more different vendors. Each of the data storage systems included in 12 may be inter-connected (not shown). Additionally, the data storage systems may also be connected to the host systems through any one or more communication connections that may vary with each particular embodiment and device in accordance with the different protocols used in a particular embodiment. The type of communication connection used may vary with certain system parameters and requirements, such as those related to bandwidth and throughput required in accordance with a rate of I/O requests as may be issued by the host computer systems, for example, to the data storage systems 12. It should be noted that each of the data storage systems may operate stand-alone, or may also be included as part of a storage area network (SAN) that includes, for example, other components such as other data storage systems. Each of the data storage systems may include a plurality of disk devices or volumes. The particular data storage systems and examples as described herein for purposes of illustration should not be construed as a limitation. Other types of commercially available data storage systems, as well as processors and hardware controlling access to these particular devices, may also be included in an embodiment.

In such an embodiment in which element 12 of FIG. 2 is implemented using one or more data storage systems, each of the data storage systems may include code thereon for performing the techniques as described herein for the common software environment. Servers or host systems, such as 14 a-14 n, provide data and access control information through channels to the storage systems, and the storage systems may also provide data to the host systems also through the channels. The host systems may not address the disk drives of the storage systems directly, but rather access to data may be provided to one or more host systems from what the host systems view as a plurality of logical devices or logical volumes (LVs). The LVs may or may not correspond to the actual disk drives. For example, one or more LVs may reside on a single physical disk drive. Data in a single storage system may be accessed by multiple hosts allowing the hosts to share the data residing therein. An LV or LUN (logical unit number) may be used to refer to the foregoing logically defined devices or volumes.

In following paragraphs, reference may be made to a particular embodiment such as, for example, an embodiment in which element 12 of FIG. 2 is an appliance as described above. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this is for purposes of illustration and should not be construed as a limitation of the techniques herein.

The common software environment may include components described herein executing on each data storage system. Each of the data storage systems may have any one of a variety of different hardware and software platforms. For example, a first data storage system may include the common software environment with a first operating system and underlying hardware. A second data storage system may include the common software environment with a different operating system and different underlying hardware.

The common software environment includes a framework which may be implemented using APIs (application programming interface) and other code modules. The APIs may implement the underlying functionality which varies with the different possible data storage system hardware and software platforms.

With reference to FIG. 3, in an example implementation, system 12 is a multi-interface, multi-protocol storage system that may be used as a general purpose storage system and/or as a special purpose storage system, e.g., an archival storage system that integrates multiple different types of archival and backup technology into one. In at least one case, system 12 has a component architecture and is Linux based.

System 12 has an application interface 203, a storage system interface 213, and file system and software 223. For use in communicating with applications, e.g., running on host 14 a, application interface 203 provides three interfaces: XAM API 210 (with Centera Protocol VIM loaded) which is object based; file system based interface 220; and block-based (e.g., SCSI Tape Target) interface 230. (Vendor Interface Modules (VIMs) are software modules that have a standard interface that converts XAM requests into native requests supported by the underlying hardware systems. For example, a XAM API call that is routed to the Centera Protocol VIM is converted to the Centera protocol and sent to Centera functionality.)

For communicating with underlying storage system resources, storage system interface 213 includes Centera Protocol 240, NFS/CIFS 250, and virtual tape library (VTL) 260 interfaces corresponding to the XAM 210, file system 220, and block-based 230 interfaces respectively. (Common Internet File System (CIFS) is a network file access protocol.) With reference to “the OAS applications” as defined further below, file system and software 223 includes CSO (Centera Software Only) software 275 and other software used as described below with Centera Protocol interface 240, and High Performance File System software 265 and Centera Universal Access (CUA) services software 270 for use as described below with interfaces 250, 260.

With respect to data ingest mechanics of system 12, data may be ingested through XAM API 210, file system interface 220, and block-based interface 230.

With reference now to FIG. 4, now described is an example of ingestion through XAM API 210. An application (e.g., running on host 14 a) creates XAM object (XSet) and stores it using XAM API 210. CSO software 275 converts the resulting data stream into local files in object store 255 and replicates 235 the XSets as they are ingested. In at least some cases, such object based replication means that no backup is required. Also, this leverages “universal migrator” capabilities of XAM such that a replication target may be any XAM device. Metadata (and optionally, object content) is indexed for later query access using index 245. Data is de-duplicated 225 asynchronously in place. Thus, if backup is desired, de-duplication results in reduced network (e.g., wide area network) traffic. Additional de-duplication can also be provided by integrating de-duplication technology into the VIM.

With reference now to FIG. 5, now described is an example of ingestion through file system interface 220. An application (e.g., running on host 14 a) creates a file using file system interface 220. NFS/CIFS interface 250 converts the resulting data stream to a local file supported by High Performance File System software 265. CUA services 270 serves as an application communicating with XAM API 210 and asynchronously causes the local file to be converted to an XSet and stored using XAM API 210. On conversion, path and filename are included in the XSet as nonbinding metadata. Time before such conversion is tunable to accommodate service level agreements about replication speed.

Thereafter this XSet is handled in the same way as the XSet described in the above example of ingestion through XAM API 210, including use of object store 255 and index 245 and appropriate indexing, replication, and de-duplication as described above. XUIDs are stored by High Performance File System software 265 to enable continued access to data after XAM conversion.

Note that in at least one implementation, data ingested via XAM only (as described above in connection with FIG. 4) is not visible through file system interface 220 and NFS/CIFS interface 250, but data ingested via file system interface 220 and NFS/CIFS interface 250 is visible through XAM API 210.

With reference now to FIG. 6, now described is an example of ingestion through block-based interface 230, wherein the example relates to a virtual tape library application. An application (e.g., running on host 14 a) writes a file to SCSI tape (virtual, in this case) using interface 230. Virtual Tape Library interface 260 converts the resulting data stream to a local file supported by High Performance File System software 265. CUA services 270 serves as an application communicating with XAM API 210 and asynchronously causes the local file to be converted to an XSet and stored using XAM API 210.

Thereafter this XSet is handled in the same way as the XSet described in the above example of ingestion through XAM API 210, including use of object store 255 and index 245 and appropriate indexing, replication, and de-duplication as described above.

Note that in at least one implementation, data ingested via XAM only (as described above in connection with FIG. 4) is not visible through block-based interface 230 and Virtual Tape Library interface 260, but data ingested via block-based interface 230 and Virtual Tape Library interface 260 is visible through XAM API 210.

In at least one implementation, data ingested via file system interface 220 and NFS/CIFS interface 250 is not visible through block-based interface 230 and Virtual Tape Library interface 260, and data ingested via block-based interface 230 and Virtual Tape Library interface 260 is not visible through file system interface 220 and NFS/CIFS interface 250.

In at least one implementation, all data ingested by system 12 via any interface is visible at least through XAM API 210.

In at least one implementation, all data ingested by system 12 via any interface is unified in object store 255 and is indexed locally with index 245 to support scalable query and processing. With respect to unification of stored (e.g., archived) data, all data, universal services are available. XAM provides a job model to enable arbitrary jobs to be able to run on the data. These jobs include:

Query: A subset of SQL based on Documentum's DSQL is the query language used by XAM. XAM defines query support for both data and metadata.

Analysis: XAM fully supports mime types for all elements of data and metadata stored in its objects. Any rich information based on file type will be passed along to the XAM self describing format, allowing contextual analysis of data (e.g., face recognition on images files—this can be done by other applications due to the self-describing nature of the XSet).

Processing: Actions can be taken based on query and analysis. For example, a policy based job can be nm that migrates all data on the system that has not been accessed for two years.

With respect to universal retention and disposition, default retention and disposition rules can be applied to NFS/CIFS and block-based (tape data) on ingest. Subsequent to ingest, rich policy management can be applied to this data through the XAM interface, such as litigation hold and release, retention policy review and modification on a per object basis or through wholesale policy management, and auto-disposition policy, which specifies what to do with content when its retention policy expires, and what to do when it is deleted.

With respect to universal migration, XAM provides a mechanism for migrating files from performance based pre-provisioned locations to location independent archived storage. True Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) and policy driven lifecycle management is enabled. A self describing canonical format can include references to key stores, authentication warehouses, and policy information in a portable fashion. Any XAM device can be used as a migration destination.

Thus, in accordance with the technique described herein, no matter which protocol is used to ingest data, the data is stored using object-based storage processes, in combinations of objects and metadata, so that under the XAM protocol content can be stored and metadata can be associated along with it, and a unique object identifier can be returned back.

System 12 has object-based, file-based, and block-based capabilities all collapsed into one storage device that advertises all three protocols so that there are three different ways to ingest data into the storage system.

Host 14 a has an application that has integrated with the XAM API and creates an XSet object and stores it using the XAM API. The XSet object includes content, e.g., x-ray information, doctor's notes, patient information, and is sent down through the XAM API to Centera protocol. The resulting data stream that comes in is put into local files (object store 255) and can be replicated immediately. At least the metadata that comes down in this object can be indexed and stored in a search and index type of database for queries later to find objects. Deduplication software 225 acts on store 255 such that as files are loaded into store 255, hashes are derived from the content and are compared to determine whether store 255 already has the content so that it need not be stored again.

With respect to the file system interface, the application creates a file, e.g., using commands fopen, write, close, and inside system 12 the file is stored as local file. CUA services converts the local file into a XAM XSet by calling XAM API and presenting the file and directing XAM API to turn the file into an object. Subsequently the same set of events occur that are experienced whenever writing directly to XAM API takes place, e.g., same replication, same deduplication possibilities. Accordingly, no matter which protocol is used, a same form of replication is used on the back end.

Thus, for example, advantageously, if a file needs to be retained for seven years, an application or user can access the XAM API, request the object for the file (e.g., x-ray data) that was stored, get the object, and turn retention on for seven years; subsequently within the seven years, when someone tries to delete the file, it cannot be deleted. Thus, files can be accessed as objects since system 12 turns the files into objects as soon as the files come into the system, and making the objects available via a different protocol (e.g., XAM). This also has other advantages such as shredding, wherein an application or user can go to the XSet via XAM API and turn shredding on for a particular object, and if someone deletes the corresponding file via the file system, system 12 will shred it.

Also, when a file is deleted, system 12 leaves behind a reflection indicating time and date and user for the deletion, so that, via the XAM API, an application or user can do a query of everything that has been deleted in last hour or over another time period.

In a specific example, a business scans or accepts mortgage applications, and stores them via the file system. Rules or regulations state how long the business must keep them or make them immutable (no alterations). If the business's document workflow application requires storing files in a file system and it is impractical or difficult to integrate the application with the XAM API, system 12 helps the business with compliance with the rules or regulations.

After system 12 has completed storing a new file as an object in store 255, the file system of High Performance File System 265 stores only the XUID (object ID) corresponding to the file, so that, for example, if an application running on host 14 a needs to open the file, High Performance File System software uses the object ID to retrieve the corresponding object from XAM API, unpacks the file from the object, and returns the file to the application.

Similarly, in the case of SCSI tape, a file is written by the application to a SCSI tape device (as virtually presented by system 12), VTL converts the file to the local file system, and CUA services causes it to be converted to a XAM XSet and the remaining steps are same the same as in the case of the file system.

No matter which protocol is used for ingestion, indexing is provided, so that if, for example, a file is lost according to the VTL interface, an application or user can check for it via the XAM API and can restore it via the XAM API. In at least one implementation, indexing is accomplished by making a pass over the file and pulling out keywords and indexing them, i.e., indexing content on the fly, along with any metadata that comes with file, e.g., where is it in the file system, SCSI tape number.

When CUA services indicates it has a file that was backed up to tape that is to be packaged as an XSet object, additional metadata may be stored, e.g., tape number, SCSI ID.

XAM API supports searching through a pool of objects by keyword, and system 12 may implement index 245 as local storage.

Since all objects can be accessed through XAM API regardless of the protocol used for ingest, such objects can be supported by XAM's set of services, e.g., query processing, application of policies regarding universal retention, litigation hold, disposal. In addition, such objects can benefit from universal migration, since XAM is vendor neutral migration such that objects when exported are converted to a vendor neutral format (e.g., the self describing canonical format) which can be ingested by any other XAM device. This can be used, e.g., for technology refresh or to a different revision of the same file system.

The above-described embodiments of the present invention can be implemented on any suitable computer, and a system employing any suitable type of storage system. Examples of suitable computers and/or storage systems are described in the patent applications listed below in Table 1 (collectively “the OAS applications”), each of which is incorporated herein by reference. It should be appreciated that the computers and storage systems described in these applications are only examples of computers and storage systems on which the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented, as the aspects of the invention described herein are not limited to being implemented in any particular way.

TABLE 1 Title Ser. No. Filing Date Content Addressable 09/236,366 Jan. 21, 1999 Information, Encapsulation, Representation, And Transfer Access To Content 09/235,146 Jan. 21, 1999 Addressable Data Over A Network System And Method For 09/391,360 Sep. 7, 1999 Secure Storage Transfer And Retrieval Of Content Addressable Information Method And Apparatus For 10/731,790 Dec. 9, 2003 Data Retention In A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/731,613 Dec. 9, 2003 Facilitating Access To Content In A Data Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/731,796 Dec. 9, 2003 Caching A Location Index In A Data Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/731,603 Dec. 9, 2003 Parsing A Content Address To Facilitate Selection Of A Physical Storage Location In A Data Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/731,845 Dec. 9, 2003 Generating A Content Address To Indicate Data Units Written To A Storage System Proximate In Time Methods And Apparatus For 10/762,044 Jan. 21, 2004 Modifying A Retention Period For Data In A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/761,826 Jan. 21, 2004 Extending A Retention Period For Data In A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/762,036 Jan. 21, 2004 Indirectly Identifying A Retention Period For Data In A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/762,043 Jan. 21, 2004 Indirectly Identifying A Retention Period For Data In A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/787,337 Feb. 26, 2004 Increasing Data Storage Capacity Methods And Apparatus For 10/787,670 Feb. 26, 2004 Storing Data In A Storage Environment Methods And Apparatus For 10/910,985 Aug. 4, 2004 Segregating A Content Addressable Computer System Methods And Apparatus For 10/911,330 Aug. 4, 2004 Accessing Content In A Virtual Pool On A Content Addressable Storage System Methods and Apparatus For 10/911,248 Aug. 4, 2004 Including Storage System Capability Information In An Access Request To A Content Addressable Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 10/911,247 Aug. 4, 2004 Tracking Content Storage In A Content Addressable Storage System Methods and Apparatus For 10/911,360 Aug. 4, 2004 Storing Information Identifying A Source Of A Content Unit Stored On A Content Addressable System Software System For 11/021,892 Dec. 23, 2004 Providing Storage System Functionality Software System For 11/022,022 Dec. 23, 2004 Providing Content Addressable Storage System Functionality Methods And Apparatus For 11/022,077 Dec. 23, 2004 Providing Data Retention Capability Via A Network Attached Storage Device Methods And Apparatus For 11/021,756 Dec. 23, 2004 Managing Storage In A Computer System Methods And Apparatus For 11/021,012 Dec. 23, 2004 Processing Access Requests In A Computer System Methods And Apparatus For 11/021,378 Dec. 23, 2004 Accessing Information In A Hierarchical File System Methods And Apparatus For 11/034,613 Jan. 12, 2005 Storing A Reflection On A Storage System Method And Apparatus For 11/034,737 Jan. 12, 2005 Modifying A Retention Period Methods And Apparatus For 11/034,732 Jan. 12, 2005 Managing Deletion of Data Methods And Apparatus For 11/107,520 Apr. 15, 2005 Managing The Storage Of Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/107,063 Apr. 15, 2005 Retrieval Of Content Units In A Time-Based Directory Structure Methods And Apparatus For 11/107,194 Apr. 15, 2005 Managing The Replication Of Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/165,104 Jun. 23, 2005 Managing the Storage Of Content In A File System Methods And Apparatus For 11/165,103 Jun. 23, 2005 Accessing Content Stored In A File System Methods And Apparatus For 11/165,102 Jun. 23, 2005 Storing Content In A File System Methods And Apparatus For 11/212,898 Aug. 26, 2005 Managing the Storage of Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/213,565 Aug. 26, 2005 Scheduling An Action on a Computer Methods And Apparatus For 11/213,233 Aug. 26, 2005 Deleting Content From A Storage System Method and Apparatus For 11/324,615 Jan. 3, 2006 Managing The Storage Of Content Method and Apparatus For 11/324,639 Jan. 3, 2006 Providing An Interface To A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/324,533 Jan. 3, 2006 Managing A File System On A Content Addressable Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/324,637 Jan. 3, 2006 Creating A File System Methods And Apparatus For 11/324,726 Jan. 3, 2006 Mounting A File System Methods And Apparatus For 11/324,642 Jan. 3, 2006 Allowing Access To Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/324,727 Jan. 3, 2006 Implementing A File System That Stores Files On A Content Addressable Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/324,728 Jan. 3, 2006 Reconfiguring A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/324,646 Jan. 3, 2006 Increasing The Storage Capacity Of A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/324,644 Jan. 3, 2006 Accessing Content On A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/392,969 Mar. 28, 2006 Transferring Content From A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/391,654 Mar. 28, 2006 Requesting Content From A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/392,981 Mar. 28, 2006 Transferring Content To Multiple Destinations Methods And Apparatus For 11/390,878 Mar. 28, 2006 Receiving Content From A Storage System At Multiple Servers Methods And Apparatus For 11/390,564 Mar. 28, 2006 Transferring Content From An Object Addressable Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/391,636 Mar. 28, 2006 Requesting Content From An Object Addressable Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/438,770 May 23, 2006 Conversion Of Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/439,025 May 23, 2006 Selecting A Data Format For A Content Unit Methods And Apparatus For 11/439,022 May 23, 2006 Accessing A Content Unit On A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/438,817 May 23, 2006 Enabling Selection Of A Content Unit Data Format Methods And Apparatus For 11/474,658 Jun. 26, 2006 Accessing Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/474,846 Jun. 26, 2006 Providing Access To Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/474,655 Jun. 26, 2006 Retrieving Stored Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/474,661 Jun. 26, 2006 Accessing Content Through Multiple Nodes Methods And Apparatus For 11/474,719 Jun. 26, 2006 Receiving Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/474,749 Jun. 26, 2006 Processing Access Requests Methods And Apparatus For 11/474,802 Jun. 26, 2006 Providing Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/483,465 Jul. 10, 2006 Managing Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/483,799 Jul. 10, 2006 Moving Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/483,494 Jul. 10, 2006 Storing Content Methods And Apparatus For 11/519,374 Sep. 12, 2006 Caching Content In A Computer System Employing Object Addressable Storage Methods And Apparatus For 11/644,430 Dec. 22, 2006 Selection Of A Storage Location For A Content Unit Methods And Apparatus For 11/644,423 Dec. 22, 2006 Modifying An Object Identifier For A Content Unit Methods And Apparatus For 11/644,174 Dec. 22, 2006 Storing Content On A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/644,857 Dec. 22, 2006 Increasing The Storage Capacity Of A Zone Of A Storage System Methods And Apparatus For 11/644,428 Dec. 22, 2006 Selecting A Storage Zone For A Content Unit

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, their modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention should be limited only by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for use in applying XAM processes, the method comprising: receiving a set of content via one of multiple different interfaces at an object addressable data storage system, wherein the storage system includes a file system interface, a block based interface, and an object based interface, wherein receiving includes attaching metadata to the set of content as it is received via one of the multiple different interfaces at the object addressable data storage system; converting the set of content received via one of multiple different interfaces, wherein converting includes converting content received via the file system interface into a set of local files and asynchronously converting the local files to an XSet, converting content received via the block based interface into a set of local files and asynchronously converting the local file to an XSet, and content received via the object based interface includes converting the received content into local files in an object store and replicating an XSet as received; storing, in the object addressable data storage system, an object derived from the set of content received via any of the file system interface, the block based interface, and the object based interface, the object having an object identifier, wherein storing includes unifying the derived object and storing the derived object in a unified object store; utilizing XAM processes to index the metadata and the derived object from the set of content received via any of the file system interface, the block based interface, and the object based interface; making the derived object available for retrieval via the object based interface using the object identifier; and providing a singular, unified view of the metadata and the derived object derived from the set of content received via any of the file system interface, the block based interface, and the object based interface.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the object addressable data storage system comprises indexed storage using XAM processes.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the object addressable data storage system uses a unified, canonical format to house content arriving via any of the file system interface, the block based interface, and the object based interface.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein in the object addressable data storage system the set of content can be viewed using a XAM process.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of content is converted to a local file supported by file system software and the local file is converted to an XSet and stored using XAM.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of content is converted to an XSet and path and filename are included in the XSet as nonbinding metadata.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of content is converted to an XSet and replication is applied to the XSet.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of content is converted to an XSet and the XSet is visible through the object based interface.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of content, if received via the object-based interface, is visible only via the object-based interface.
 10. A system for use in applying XAM processes, the system comprising a processor and memory configured to: receive a set of content via one of multiple different interfaces at an object addressable data storage system, wherein the storage system includes a file system interface, a block based interface, and an object based interface, wherein receive included attach metadata to the set of content as it is received via one of the multiple different interfaces at the object addressable data storage system; convert the set of content received via one of multiple different interfaces, wherein convert includes convert content received via the file system interface into a set of local files and asynchronously converting the local files to an XSet, convert content received via the block based interface into a set of local files and asynchronously convert the local file to an XSet, and content received via the object based interface includes convert the received content into local files in an object store and replicate an XSet as received; store, in the object addressable data storage system, an object derived from the set of content received via any of the file system interface, the block based interface, and the object based interface, the object having an object identifier, wherein store includes unify the derived object and store the derived object in a unified object store; utilize XAM processes to index the metadata and the derived object from the set of content received via any of the file system interface, the block based interface, and the object based interface; make the derived object available for retrieval via the object based interface using the object identifier; and provide a singular view of the metadata and the object derived from the set of content received via any of the file system interface, the block based interface, and the object based interface.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the object addressable data storage system comprises indexed storage using XAM processes.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the object addressable data storage system uses a unified, canonical format to house content arriving via any of the file system interface, the block based interface, and the object based interface.
 13. The system of claim 10, wherein in the object addressable data storage system the set of content can be viewed using a XAM process.
 14. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of content is converted to a local file supported by file system software and the local file is converted to an XSet and stored using XAM.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of content is converted to an XSet and path and filename are included in the XSet as nonbinding metadata.
 16. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of content is converted to an XSet and replication is applied to the XSet.
 17. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of content is converted to an XSet and the XSet is visible through the object based interface.
 18. The system of claim 10, wherein the set of content, if received via the object-based interface, is visible only via the object-based interface. 